School fee reminder SMS templates (copy and use)
Published 2 October 2026 · By the ShuleTop team
A good fee reminder is short, polite, specific about the amount, and makes paying easy. Below are 12 templates written for Kenyan schools. Each one fits in a single SMS (160 characters) even with a typical learner name, balance and paybill filled in — we counted.
Replace the words in {curly brackets}: {name} the learner, {balance} the amount owed, {paybill} and {account} your payment details, {date} the deadline, {phone} the bursar’s number, {term} and {school}.
Friendly reminders
Dear parent, {name}’s fee balance is {balance}. Kindly clear it by {date}. Paybill {paybill}, Acc {account}. Thank you. {school}With a typical name and balance: 141 characters — 1 SMS
Hello parent. A gentle reminder that {name} has a balance of {balance} for {term}. Pay via Paybill {paybill}, Acc {account}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 146 characters — 1 SMS
Dear parent, thank you for your support this term. {name}’s balance is {balance}. Kindly pay by {date}. Paybill {paybill}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 145 characters — 1 SMS
Before opening day
Dear parent, school opens on {date}. {name}’s fee balance is {balance}. Pay via Paybill {paybill}, Acc {account}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 135 characters — 1 SMS
Reminder: {term} begins {date}. Please ensure {name}’s fees ({balance}) are paid before reporting. Paybill {paybill}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 140 characters — 1 SMS
Firm reminders
Dear parent, {name}’s fee balance of {balance} is now overdue. Please pay by {date} or call {phone} to agree a plan. {school}With a typical name and balance: 147 characters — 1 SMS
Second reminder: {name} has an outstanding balance of {balance}. Kindly pay by {date}. Paybill {paybill}, Acc {account}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 142 characters — 1 SMS
Payment plans
Dear parent, if paying {balance} at once is hard, call {phone} to agree instalments for {name}. We are happy to help. {school}With a typical name and balance: 148 characters — 1 SMS
Dear parent, as agreed, the next instalment for {name} is due on {date}. Balance: {balance}. Paybill {paybill}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 134 characters — 1 SMS
Final notice
FINAL NOTICE: {name}’s balance of {balance} is still unpaid. Please pay by {date} or visit the bursar. Paybill {paybill}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 144 characters — 1 SMS
Thank you and receipts
Thank you! We have received your payment for {name}. New balance: {balance}. {school}With a typical name and balance: 102 characters — 1 SMS
Dear parent, thank you for clearing {name}’s fees for {term}. We appreciate your support. {school}With a typical name and balance: 114 characters — 1 SMS
Tips that get fees paid
- Always include the exact balance. “Kindly clear the balance” gets ignored; “Balance: KES 12,500” gets paid.
- Make paying easy: the paybill, the account number and a deadline in the same message.
- Send at sensible times: mid-morning or early evening, not late at night.
- Space reminders out. A friendly reminder, a firmer one a week or two later, then a final notice.
- Offer a way to talk. Parents who can’t pay at once often will if offered instalments.
- Keep it private. Never post balances in a class WhatsApp group.
- Say thank you when a balance is cleared — it builds goodwill for next term.
Why keep it under 160 characters?
An SMS longer than 160 characters is sent as two or more messages and costs more. Some characters, such as curly quotes or emoji, can shorten the limit on some networks, so keep reminders plain and short.
ShuleTop fills in each learner’s own balance and sends fee reminders or arrears notices to a whole class at once, at KES 1 per SMS, and shows the character count before you send. See SMS for schools →
Also see school fees management in ShuleTop.
